The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ task is that the progress registered over the last year should be maintained in the future Yuri Merzklyakov, the Russian Co-Chair, told 1news.az.

“We have objectively registered progress. But I find it difficult to forecast further developments. Next year we are going to work at the next Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting. We will speak about it when we arrive in the region,” Merzlyakov said.

He said that the OSCE MG Co-Chairs will do their best for appreciable results to be produced next year. “It is not a framework agreement. It is agreeing on the basic principles of settlement, with further work on them done at each presidential meeting. If agreed on, they will serve as a basis for a comprehensive peace agreement,” Merzlyakov said.

He pointed out that what is known as a framework agreement is actually the basic principles approved by the Presidents. “I do not think a document will be signed. It will be either a joint statement or separate statements on the approval of the principle and instructions to the Foreign Ministers and the OSCE MG Co-Chairs to start working at the text of the agreement. Once the principles are agreed on, it will be progress,” Merzlyakov said.

T.P.